EDINBURG, Texas -- Costa Rica and Canada scored shutout victories in their respective Group B opening matches of the 2018 concacaf Women's Championship at H-E-B Park on Friday night.
Las Ticas recorded an 8-0 triumph over Cuba, making his CWC debut, in the first game of the doubleheader to take the group lead because of goal differential.
Nichelle Prince tallied twice to boost the Canadians to a 2-0 win over Jamaica.
Prince struck from 12 yards in the 33rd minute. She added an insurance goal in the 79th minute, running onto a pass from second-half substitute Adriana Leon before beating goalkeeper Sydney Schneider from eight yards.
The Costa Ricans scored early and often as Shirley Cruz, Priscilla Chinchilla and Maria Barrantes registered braces. Daphne Herrera and Fabiola Sanchez also found the net.
The Central America side grabbed a two-goal advantage as Herrera and Chinchilla scored five minutes into the match and never looked back.
Costa Rica was forced to replace starting goalkeeper Maria Bermudez in the 31st minute after she sufferied a fractured left arm. Bermudez was replaced by Daniela Solera. Under tournament regulations, the Costa Ricans will be allowed to add another keeper.
After a day off, CWC resumes Sunday in Cary, North Carolina as the U.S. takes on Panama while Mexico faces Trinidad & Tobago.
On Monday, Costa Rica will meet Jamaica and Canada tussles with Cuba here.
